Routine Checkups

It's important for your teen to continue to have routine checkups. These checkups allow the doctor to detect problems and to make sure your teen is growing and developing as expected. The doctor will do a physical exam and ask questions about your teen's social, academic, relationship, and mental health status. Your teen's immunization record will be reviewed, and needed immunizations should be given at this time. For more information on immunizations, see:

Teens also need to have regular dental checkups and need to be encouraged to brush and floss regularly. For more information about dental checkups, see the topic Basic Dental Care.

Starting in the teen years, most doctors like to spend some time alone with your child during the visit. Although many state laws are vague about teens' rights to medical confidentiality, most doctors will clarify expectations. Ideally, you will all agree that anything your teen discusses privately with the doctor will remain confidential, with few exceptions. This gives your teen an opportunity talk to the doctor about any issue he or she may not feel comfortable sharing with you.

Other Places To Get Help

Organizations

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

409 12th Street SW

P.O. Box 70620

Washington, DC 20024-9998

Phone:

1-800-673-8444

Phone:

(202) 638-5577

Email:

resources@acog.org

Web Address:

www.acog.org

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is a nonprofit organization of professionals who provide health care for women, including teens. The ACOG Resource Center publishes manuals and patient education materials. The Web publications section of the site has patient education pamphlets on many women's health topics, including reproductive health, breast-feeding, violence, and quitting smoking.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Healthy Living

1600 Clifton Road

Atlanta, GA 30333

Phone:

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

TDD:

1-888-232-6348

Web Address:

www.cdc.gov/HealthyLiving

This website has information about things you can do to help yourself and your family members be healthy. Topics address child development, physical activity, healthy eating, reproductive health, mental health, and more.

KidsHealth for Parents, Children, and Teens

Nemours Home Office

10140 Centurion Parkway

Jacksonville, FL 32256

Phone:

(904) 697-4100

Web Address:

www.kidshealth.org

This website is sponsored by the Nemours Foundation. It has a wide range of information about children's health—from allergies and diseases to normal growth and development (birth to adolescence). This website offers separate areas for kids, teens, and parents, each providing age-appropriate information that the child or parent can understand. You can sign up to get weekly emails about your area of interest.

National Criminal Justice Reference Service: Internet Safety

P.O. Box 6000

Rockville, MD 20849

Phone:

1-800-851-3420(301) 519-5500

Fax:

(301) 519-5212

TDD:

1-877-712-9279 toll-free

Web Address:

www.ncjrs.gov/internetsafety

This Web site provides a variety of resources about protecting yourself and your family from Internet crimes. There is information about Internet safety for children, identity theft, general Internet safety, and Internet privacy.

The Teen Talk Web site (www.plannedparenthood.org/teen-talk) has information for teens about dating, teen pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, how teens can protect themselves against STDs, and more.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Your Environment. Your Choice.

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20460

Web Address:

www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/teens

This teen Web site has information and tools to help you make environmentally sound choices about the products and natural resources you use, the waste you create, and the environment in which you live.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.